This course covers the theory and practice of public speaking. Building on ancient rhetorical canons while recognizing unique challenges of contemporary public speaking, the course guides students through topic selection, organization, language, and delivery. Working independently and with peer groups, students will be actively involved in every step of the process of public speaking preparation and execution. Assignments include formal speeches (to inform, to persuade, and to pay tribute), brief extemporaneous speeches, speech analyses, and evaluations. No prerequisites. Limited enrollment.
In this course, we’ll answer a seemingly simple question: What is good public speaking?
We will discover answers to this question using a number of strategies. We will consult ancient canons of rhetoric. We will talk about contemporary findings of social scientific and rhetorical scholarship. We will also discover what constitutes good public speaking by practicing public speaking. We will try some techniques and strategies, see what works, learn what doesn’t, and then try again. We will consider challenges of selecting and refining topics, organizing arguments, supporting positions, and delivering speeches of impact. Perhaps most importantly, I’ll help you to find your unique voice, preserve what’s effective, improve what’s lacking, and become a more successful speaker.
There will be two major formal speeches in the course, several brief speeches, written activities, peer evaluations, and class discussions. You will also keep a journal during the term to help monitor your progress in public speaking. You will have experience speaking extemporaneously and from manuscript.
The challenges of this course are demanding yet exciting: How do we transform our ideas into clear and convincing speeches? How do we craft and deliver messages that matter? How do we not only answer, but also demonstrate an answer, to the fundamental question of this course: What is good public speaking?
